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Kingdom Hearts: The Beginning

Chapter 12: Hoshiko and Axkenom

Hoshiko sat near the waters edge, gazing into her reflection. They were taking a break from scouting the area for this possible keyhole. They keyhole was how the heartless were getting in, and she was the only one who could seal it. She tapped her fingers on the keychain the cheif had given her. She had used it already, and decided she wasn't used to it yet. A scream rent the air. She jumped to her feet, key blade in hand. One of the Cheif's men ran back to her, he was limping.

"What happened?" Hoshiko asked as he used her to support himself. He meerly pointed to the tree's, in terror where the bigest heartless yet. It was about three feet tall, and five feet long, it looked like a giant lizard, with a heartless symbol on it's forehead. It turned to Hoshiko, and before she had time to push the guy off her shoulder, it pounced, landing on top of Hoshiko and the man, crushing them both against the ground.

Hoshiko could hardly breathe. She felt as though her whole body was on fire. A fire element. But she didn't know water spells yet, there was only one thing spell she new. "Thunder!" she yelled, and the air was filled with the shreak of the heartless as it flew off of Hoshiko. She regained her breath and got to her feet, keyblade in hand. That last spell had been stronger, much stronger then the lighting she normally used.

The heartless charged at her, keeping its body low to the ground as it weaved to her. She was ready for it this time, when it jumped, she attacked, slashing up with the keyblade. It wasn't enough, but the heartless lizard now thought twice before simple charging. It screamed in anger and lashed out with its tail. Hoshiko jumped into the air, dodging the attack, and brought the keyblade down hard onto its scaley shriek and it spun around, knocking Hoshiko off her feet.

As Hoshiko got to her feet, back up arrived. Pocahontas arrived. Hoshiko wasn't sure how much help she could be in a fight, and as she was about to tell her to leave, the Indian princces tossed Hoshiko a Mega-Potion. Perfect, this was just what she needed. Hoshiko swallowed it in one mouthful and felt much better now.

Hoshiko turned back to the lizard, this time she charged at it, she struck it three times, she could feel the power building up inside her as she prepared the last blow. Power flowed out of her and into the keyblade as it struck. The heartless was no more, it faded and vanished, the heart floating up into the air to vanish as well.

Hoshiko smile, victory. It felt good. She felt stronger now.

Pocahontas spoke, "I am going to go and help the man back there." She guestured back toward the man who had wanred us. "I am going to take him back." Hoshiko nodded, "Thanks."

Hoshiko watched Pocahontas go, only one person had gotton hurt. That was good, she was doing her job them. She smiled to herself, then frowned, was that...rustling she heard behind her? She spun around. "Who-?"

A figure walked up to her, wearing a long black cloak, their face was hidden by a hood. the figure spoke. "Well...if it isn't the new Key bearer. Hoshiko...For some one who serves the Rheml of Light, you do have a lot of darkness in your heart." He spoke.

Hoshiko shifted into a crouch, ready to battle, the Keyblade clutched tightly between her hands. "I'm tough enough to deal with it!" she said.

He seemed to be waiting for this; he spread out his arms in a wide arch. "Let's just see how tough you really are, then." A weapon appeared in his gloved hands. It was long and thin, except at the top were it got wider. It looked like a giant rake.

"I don't fight cowards who hide their faces!" Hoshiko said, glaring at him.

He didn't pay attention to her. He raised his weapon and pointed it at Hoshiko, and before she had time to react the charge that built up quickly from each end of the rake-like weapon charged forward. It his Hoshiko hard at full speed. She had just enough time to hold up her arms to protect her face before she was trown back. She slammed into the ground, sliding back a few feet before she lay motionless.

He moved forward, pulling his hood down to reveal should length turquoise hair. His eyes were covered by thick glasses that rested on hus huge nose, his skin was tan. He frowned, as he let his weapon vanish.

"What a waste he muttered." They had told him that this girl was strong. Perhaps one of the worst enemies they'd be facing, and he took her out with his weakest attack. That meant that he was either very strong, or she was very weak. He turned away from her, he might as well finish off this village and fill this world with darkness since he beat the key bearer.

Suddenly there was a sharp feeling of pain on his back and he was thrown forward. He turned and saw her, standing there, panting. How was that possible?! She had no health left! She key she held in her hand glinted slightly as she raised it. He cringed, knowing she was going to finish this. It glowed again and he waited for the spell she was casting to hit him, but it didn't. Instead she stood before him now, fully healed.

He took that moment to summon his weapon again and aim at her, but before he could she dashed forward and knocked the weapon away, she drew the blade up and slashed down at him, hitting his half raised arm. He slid back a couple of feet, his glasses fell off his face and clattered to the ground. He stared up at her in fear through golden eyes, and then vanished into darkness.

Hoshiko let the keyblade fall to her side with her arms. She stared at the place where he had vanished, who where these people? What did they have to do with the heartless? They seemed to use the same darkness to vanish and appear out of nowhere. She didn't know. She looked up at the setting sun, some stars had appeared in the darkening sky, shining hope that there were would that were still whole. She watched the stars for a while, her eyes followed a star that streaked across the sky, leavings a slight trail behind. She closed her eyes and made a wish. She felt a little silly for it, but she it's not like there was anyone watching.

She hoped.